Virtual catalog and product presentation method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method is disclosed for the comparison of a plurality of selected products on the display of a remote computer. In one example, a product image of each of the selected products is combined with a background image for presentation on the display of the remote computer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.09/406,477, filed Sep. 27, 1999 now abandoned which is a continuation ofU.S. application Ser. No. 08/620,947, filed Mar. 22, 1996, now U.S. Pat.No. 5,970,471. The disclosure of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/406,477,filed Sep. 27, 1999 is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electronic catalog apparatus andmethod. More particularly, the present invention relates to a virtualproduct catalog and product inventory control and presentation apparatusand method.

The present invention provides a virtual product catalog and productpresentation apparatus to assist with merchandising of products. Oneproblem is common to the merchandising of all products. This problem isthe inability to determine which categories of a product line will sellwell at a particular store location. The result is that a product thatsells well at one location may have a poor sales record at anotherlocation, such as in another city or on an other side of town. Sinceinventory turnover is the key to profits in retailing, this inability toforecast customer requirements accurately reduces profits for retailers.

Two common methods have been applied to attempt to reduce this problem.One method is to build “superstores” in order to assure productavailability by offering a very large selection. The superstore providesa larger base of products in order to give the illusion of providingone-stop shopping to customers. Superstores, however, do not optimizeinventory. A second method is to tailor product availability to regularcustomers of a specific store and to move product in and out of stockrapidly at each location based on customer demands. Both methods havehad some success. This second method, typically called vertical or nichemerchandising, does a better job of managing inventory while supplyingregular customers with the products they require. The second method,however, has the disadvantage of making each store layout unique andhaving product availability which is inconsistent between stores.

The present invention is designed to provide a solution to the productmerchandising problem. Throughout this specification, the presentinvention will be described in connection with jewelry industryproducts. It is understood, however, that the apparatus and method ofthe present invention may be used with any type of products. Therefore,the examples of jewelry industry products are for illustrative purposesonly and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

In the jewelry industry, purchasing decisions of customers are basedlargely upon visual appreciation of style and color. When a prospectivecustomer enters a jewelry store, he or she approaches the showcasecontaining those pieces of specific interest, such as engagement rings,earrings, pendants, bracelets, necklaces, etc. The jeweler then brings atray of items to the counter where one or more pieces of interest to theperspective customer are placed to the side for further study. Thejeweler continues this process until a few pieces of particular interesthave been gathered. At this point, the prospective customer's attentionis focused on these few pieces and the jeweler can now bring closure tothe sale. If the prospective customer does not find any of the in-stockitems to be of interest, the jeweler can only suggest that the customerlook at a competitors' in-stock products offering or look throughseveral catalogs for something that more closely meets with thecustomers requirements.

Apparatus and method of the present invention, the shortcomings of thestandard merchandising are overcome by providing an electronic image ofthe various products available to the customer using a computer at thestore location. Unlike the limitations of physical space and financingimposed on in-stock inventory, a video catalog can offer a substantiallygreater number of product selections. In addition, the apparatus of thepresent invention provides an efficient and secure method ofdemonstrating products to the customer.

Using the apparatus of the present invention, the customer is led to aparticular product category via a hierarchical menu structure. Once theproduct category is selected, the customer browses through variousavailable items. The customer then selects products of interest by usinga menu icon and a computer mouse input device or by touching the icon onthe screen if the system utilizes a touch screen monitor. An image ofeach selected product item and its associated data are then placed in aseparate review box on the computer screen for further review. Asadditional items of interest are found, these items may also be placedin remaining boxes. The number of review boxes for reviewing products istypically based on monitor and graphics resolution capabilities.Illustratively, four such review boxes are used for reviewing selectedproducts. It is understood that more or less image boxes can be useddepending upon the application and the available display technology.

One feature of this invention is the ability to select individualproduct items as they are displayed in image boxes and to move theselected product items to a separate review screen. This permits thecustomer to browse through multiple categories of items and moveselected product items to a separate review screen for later inspectionand side-by-side comparison to other selected product items. Once a fewselected items of interest are moved to the review screen, againarbitrarily limited to four items, these items can be comparedside-by-side for a quick decision of which item the customer would liketo purchase. If the selected item for purchase is not in stock, theapparatus of the present invention generates an order form forelectronic or manual delivery to the product vendor.

The present invention enables the jeweler to minimize actual in-stockinventory to only those items required to provide the prospectivecustomer the look and feel of the quality of similar merchandise. At thesame time, the jeweler can offer a very large selection of products andcan demonstrate these products to customers quickly and efficiently. Thepresent invention therefore improves the efficiency of productpresentation, improves sales productivity, and provides means forimplementing just-in-time inventory for the retail merchandiser.

The present invention also provides the operator with the ability tooverlay an image of a product on a desired background. In merchandising,special days are used to help generate interest in a particular product.When advertising products for these special days or seasons, amerchandiser typically generates a flyer having pictures of themerchandise on a background illustrating or representing the particularholiday.

The present invention provides the operator the capability ofdynamically applying a desired background to a product image. Forinstance, a Christmas scene may be dynamically applied as the backgroundto a piece of jewelry that the retailer wishes to offer as a Christmasspecial. A different background can be applied for every day of the yearto selected pieces of merchandise. This allows the merchandiser to havea virtual catalog where both the product selection and the productpresentation can change on demand.

Techniques disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,490 may be used to integrateand maintain static or constant data and variable data. The presentinvention uses a “map” to define the exact way a product image, productinformation, and background image are integrated together to provide avisual product presentation on the computer located at the storelocation. In addition, all components of the presentation image can bemanaged and maintained by a central server located at the vendor'scorporate location. This allows corporate marketing and advertisingdepartments to control and manage product presentation efficiently ateach sales location.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a method is providedfor presenting a plurality of product images for review by a user on acomputer including a display, a memory, and an input device. The methodincludes the steps of displaying a plurality of product images on thedisplay, providing product image review boxes on the display for aside-by-side comparison of selected product images, receiving a userinput selecting a product image from the plurality of product imagesdisplayed on the display, and displaying the selected product image inone of the review boxes for a side-by-side comparison with at least oneother selected product image.

In the illustrative method, the step of displaying a plurality ofproduct images includes the step of displaying a scroll box on thedisplay which includes the plurality of product images from the selectedproduct category. The product images in the review boxes are typicallylarger than the product images in the scroll box. The selected productimages are displayed in the next available review box until all thereview boxes are filled with product images. The next selected productimage replaces the product image in one of the review boxes. The usermay select the review box in which to replace the product image afterall the review boxes are filled with product images.

The illustrated method also includes the steps of receiving a user inputto order a selected product displayed on the display, and automaticallygenerating an order form for the selected product. The method furtherincludes the step of automatically transmitting the order form for theselected product from the computer to a vendor's computer located at aremote location.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided forpresenting a plurality of product images for review by a user on acomputer including a display, a memory, and an input device. The methodincludes the steps of displaying a menu including a plurality ofavailable vendors on the display, receiving a user input selecting oneof the vendors, displaying a product category menu on the display forproducts available from a selected vendor, receiving a user inputselecting one of the product categories from the product category menu,and displaying a plurality of product images on the display from theselected product category. The method also includes the steps ofproviding at least two product image review boxes on the display for aside-by-side comparison of selected product images, receiving a userinput selecting a product image from the plurality of product imagesdisplayed on the display, and displaying the selected product image inone of the display boxes for a side-by-side comparison with at least oneother selected product image.

The product category menu is typically a hierarchical product categorymenu including at least two levels. In the illustrated method, thehierarchical product category menu includes three levels.

The illustrated method further includes the step of establishing acommunication link between the computer and a vendor's computer locatedat a remote location after the desired product category is selected. Thevendor's computer transmits variable data and updated constant datarelated to the plurality of products from the selected product categoryto the computer.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method isprovided for displaying a product image for review by a user on acomputer including a display, a memory, and an input device. The methodincludes the steps of storing a plurality of product images in thememory of the computer, storing a plurality of background images in thememory of the computer, and selecting one of the background images to bedisplayed on the display with each product image. The method alsoincludes the steps of receiving a user input to display a selectedproduct image, and integrating the selected product image with theselected background image on the display to provide a customized productimage on the display.

In one embodiment of the illustrated method, the product image and theselected background image are integrated based on a map transmitted tothe computer from a vendor's computer located at a remote location. Thestep of storing a plurality of product images in the memory of thecomputer illustratively includes the steps of photographing the productsagainst a black background, converting the photographic product imageinto a digital product image data format, changing any black pixels inthe digital product image data to cyan pixels, and storing the modifiedproduct image data in the computer memory. The integrating step includesthe step of overlaying the modified product image data over a selectedbackground image on the display so that the cyan pixels in the modifiedproduct image data permit the background image to be displayed on thedisplay.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, an apparatus isprovided for presenting a plurality of product images for review by auser. The apparatus includes a computer including a display, a memory,and an input device. The apparatus also includes means for displaying aplurality of product images on the display, means for providing productimage review boxes on the display for a side-by— side comparison ofselected product images, means for receiving a user input selecting aproduct image from the plurality of product images displayed on thedisplay, and means for displaying the selected product image in one ofthe review boxes for a side-by-side comparison with at least one otherselected product image.

In the illustrated apparatus, the means for displaying a plurality ofproduct images includes means for displaying a scroll box on the displaywhich includes the plurality of product images from the selected productcategory. The product images in the review boxes are typically largerthan the product images in the scroll box. The selected product imagesare displayed in the next available review box until all the reviewboxes are filled with product images. The next selected product imagereplaces the product image in one of the review boxes. In oneembodiment, the user selects the review box in which to replace theproduct image after all the review boxes are filled with product images.

The illustrative apparatus further includes means for receiving a userinput to order a selected product displayed on the display, and meansfor generating an order form for the selected product. The apparatusalso includes means for transmitting the order form for the selectedproduct from the computer to a vendor's computer located at a remotelocation.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention, anapparatus is provided for presenting a plurality of product images forreview by a user. The apparatus includes a computer including a display,a memory, and an input device. The apparatus also includes means fordisplaying a menu including a plurality of available vendors on thedisplay, means for receiving a user input selecting one of the vendors,means for displaying a product category menu on the display for productsavailable from a selected vendor, means for receiving a user inputselecting one of the product categories from the product category menu,and means for displaying a plurality of product images on the displayfrom the selected product category. The apparatus further includes meansfor providing at least two product image review boxes on the display fora side-by-side comparison of selected product images, means forreceiving a user input selecting a product image from the plurality ofproduct images displayed on the display, and means for displaying theselected product image in one of the display boxes for a side-by-sidecomparison with at least one other selected product image.

One embodiment of the apparatus includes means for establishing acommunication link between the computer and a vendor's computer locatedat a remote location after the desired product category is selected. Thevendor's computer transmits variable data and updated constant datarelated to the plurality of products from the selected product categoryto the computer.

According to an additional aspect of the present invention, an apparatusis provided for displaying a product image for review by a user. Theapparatus includes a computer including a display, a memory, and aninput device. The apparatus also includes means for storing a pluralityof product images in the memory of the computer, means for storing aplurality of background images in the memory of the computer, means forselecting one of the background images to be displayed on the displaywith each product image, means for receiving a user input to display aselected product image, and means for integrating the selected productimage with the selected background image on the display to provide acustomized product image on the display.

In the illustrated apparatus, the product image and the selectedbackground image are integrated by the integrating means based on a maptransmitted to the computer from a vendor's computer located at a remotelocation. The integrating means includes means for overlaying theproduct image over a selected background image on the display.

Additional objects, features, and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment exemplifyingthe best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figuresin which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical view illustrating a connection between acomputer at a sales location and to a vendor's computer in oneembodiment of the electronic virtual catalog apparatus of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the steps performed by the apparatusof the present invention after the software is accessed by the computerat the sales location;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the steps performed by the apparatus formodifying a configuration file;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the steps performed by the apparatus to selecta desired vendor from a menu of available vendors and then to display ahierarchical product menu for the selected vendor;

FIG. 5 is a sample screen display of a first level product menu, usingjewelry as the illustrated product;

FIG. 6 is a sample screen display illustrating a second level of theproduct menu;

FIG. 7 is a sample screen display illustrating a third level of theproduct menu;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating the steps performed by the apparatusof the present invention for proceeding through the product menuscreens;

FIG. 9 is a display screen generated on the computer at the saleslocation which includes an icon scroll box for reviewing images ofproducts available in a selected category and four larger display boxesfor displaying product items selected from the scroll box;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating the steps performed by the computerto scroll through the items in the selected product category and todisplay any selected items in the larger review boxes of the displayscreen;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating the steps performed by the computerif an operator selects one of the display boxes of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a sample screen displayed on the computer to order or reviewa selected item on the display screen;

FIG. 13 is a screen displayed on the computer for reviewing selectedimages and data related to products selected and moved to the reviewboxes;

FIG. 14 is an order pad screen displayed on the computer for orderingproducts; and

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating the steps performed by the computerduring the ordering process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of anelectronic catalog system 10 of the present invention. Operation of theelectronic catalog system 10 is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No.5,528,490, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Catalogsystem 10 includes a vendor's computer or server 12 located at avendor's place of business. The vendor's computer is coupled to amulti-port intelligent communications array 14 which is coupled to amodem 16. The catalog system 10 also includes a computer 18 located at aremote sales location. Computer 18 is also coupled to a modem 20 whichcommunicates with modem 16 at the vendor's location via telephonecommunication lines 22.

Vendor's computer 12 includes a microprocessor 26, an internal RAM 28, ahard disk drive 30, and a graphics monitor 31. Computer 18 includes amicroprocessor 32, an internal RAM 34, a hard disk drive 36, and agraphics monitor 38. Computer 18 is also coupled to a printer 24. Thecomputer 18 further includes a floppy disk drive 40 and a serialcommunications port 42. Computer 18 also includes a user input device 43such as a keyboard or mouse. A touch screen may also be used as an inputdevice, if desired.

The computer 18 at the sales location is programmed with the software toprovide a virtual catalog and product presentation apparatus forimproved merchandising of the products to customers. While theillustrated embodiment of the present invention shows the computer 18communicating with a vendor's server computer 12 at a remote locationvia modems 20 and 16, respectively, it is understood that othercommunication techniques can be used. For instance, communicationbetween computer 18 and vendor's computer 12 may be accomplished throughthe Internet. In addition, for some applications, data can be suppliedto the sales location computer 18 by the vendor by periodically sendingupdated data disks which are loaded into the memory of computer 18.

In operation, the software program of the present invention is accessedfrom an operating system of computer 18 illustrated at block 50 of FIG.2. Illustratively, the software package of the present invention isaccessible from a windows operating system. Once the windows icon forthe program of the present invention is selected at the block 52,computer 18 displays a logo of the ED-MIDS® Visual Order Entry^(SM)software system along with option buttons labeled “OK,” “Exit” and“Configure” as illustrated at block 54. An operator can then select theappropriate button using a standard mouse input computer device.

Computer 18 determines whether the Exit button was selected at block 56.If the Exit button was selected, the computer 18 returns to theoperating system at block 50. If the Exit button was not selected atblock 56, computer 18 proceeds to determine whether the configurationbutton was selected at block 58. If the Configure button was selected,computer 18 proceeds to block 60 of FIG. 3.

These screen fields include server connection with options for either amodem connection via some type of telephone service or a networkconnection via a local or wide area network. A network setting allows auser to select the drive letter designating the network connection.Modem settings include a choice of Tone or Pulse, Baud Rate, Comm Port,the telephone number, and a modem initialization string. To exit, thesetup screen offers either an O.K. or Cancel option.

Computer 18 then services mouse picks and keyboard entries for screenfields as illustrated at block 62 in FIG. 3. Computer 18 then determineswhether the cancel button was selected or the escape key was pushed atblock 64. If so, computer 18 advances to block 66 in FIG. 2. If thecancel button or the escape key was not selected at block 64, computer18 determines whether the OK button was selected as illustrated at block68. If the OK button was not selected, computer 18 returns to block 62.If the OK button was selected, the computer 18 writes the newconfiguration file into the memory of computer 18 as illustrated atblock 70. Computer 18 then returns to block 66 of FIG. 2.

If the Configure button was not selected at block 58 of FIG. 2, computer18 determines whether the OK button was selected as illustrated at block72. If not, the computer 18 returns to block 56. If the OK button wasselected at block 72, computer 18 displays a main menu of all availablevendors as illustrated at block 74. Computer 18 then advances to block76 of FIG. 4.

After the vendor list is displayed on monitor 38, computer 18 determineswhether an exit button was selected at block 78. If so, computer 18returns to block 66 of FIG. 2. If the Exit button was not selected,computer 18 determines whether an icon for a particular listed vendorwas selected at block 80. If not, computer 18 returns to block 78. If avendor icon was selected at block 80, computer 18 branches to anappropriate vendor menu as illustrated at block 82.

A plurality of different vendors a through N illustrated by blocks 84may be provided. In the illustrated example of the jewelry industry, forinstance, separate vendors may be accessed for mountings, findings,diamonds, gem stones, finished goods, etc. Once a desired vendor isselected, computer 18 displays a hierarchical product menu for theselected vendor. In addition, computer 18 displays option buttonsincluding “Order,” “Review” and “Exit” as illustrated at block 86.

Examples of such a hierarchical product menu are illustrated in FIGS.57. FIG. 5 illustrates a first level menu for the illustrative productsof jewelry available from a finished goods vendor. From the first levelmenu displayed by customers computer 18 on monitor 38, the operator canselect the desired category of items. Once the category is selected,such as the “Bridal” category of FIG. 5, a second level menu isdisplayed as illustrated in FIG. 6. From within the second level menu anadditional category of items may be selected. For instance “Bridal Sets”may be selected. A third level product menu is then displayed bycustomer computer 18 as illustrated in FIG. 7. Although the hierarchicalmenu product menu is not limited to three levels, selection criteria formost products selection criteria can be handled with three levels. Oncethe final level has been reached, computer 18 proceeds to block 88 ofFIG. 8.

Computer 18 determines whether the Exit button was selected at block 90.If so, computer 18 advances to block 82 of FIG. 2. If the Exit buttonwas not selected at block 90, computer 18 determines whether the Orderbutton was selected as illustrated at block 94. If so, computer 18 addsthe item to an order pad as illustrated at block 96 and then advances toblock 98 of FIG. 15 as discussed in detail below.

If the Order button was not selected at block 94, computer 18 determineswhether the Review button was selected at block 100. If the Reviewbutton was not selected, computer 18 determines whether a productcategory icon was selected at block 102. The product category icon canbe selected using a computer mouse input device from the third levelmenu illustrated in FIG. 7. If the product category icon was notselected at block 102, computer 18 advances to block 90. If the productcategory icon was selected at block 102, computer 18 displays theproduct category icon scroll box and four separate display boxes forreviewing selected products as illustrated at block 104. Computer 18then advances to block 106 of FIG. 10.

After the product category is selected, computer 18 can automaticallydial up the vendor's server 12 as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,490.Vendor's server 12 can then transmit any variable product data to thecomputer 18 located at the remote sales location along with any updatedconstant or static data. The variable data may be pricing or availablequantities or other textual data, for example. Constant data stored maybe product image data and background image data, for example. Inaddition, as discussed in detail below, the vendor's server 12 cantransmit a map for integrating the images of the products with selectedbackground images in order to improve presentation of the products to acustomer.

FIG. 9 illustrates a screen display on monitor 38 of computer 18 of theproduct category icon menu scroll box 108 for an illustrative “FancyChannel-Set” product category selected from the menu of FIG. 7. Theproduct icon menu scroll box 108 displays a plurality of images alongwith textual data such as the model number for the available items inthe selected product category. The operator can scroll through the iconmenu scroll box 108 using arrows 110 and 112. The images 1-8 illustratedin FIG. 12 are actual photographic images of the jewelry items availablefor sale from the vendor. The displayed images may be larger, ifdesired. As the operator at the sales location scrolls through theproduct images in scroll box 108 the customer can select items ofinterest from the scroll box 108. Those selected items are moved tolarger display boxes for review as also illustrated in the screendisplay of FIG. 9. In the illustrated embodiment, four such largerdisplay boxes are provided. The larger images of the selected productsare displayed in first, second, third, and fourth selected image displayor review boxes 114, 116, 118, and 120, respectively. Below each of theimages is an area for textual information related to the selectedproducts at locations 122, 124, 126, and 128, respectively.

After FIG. 9 is displayed on monitor 38 of computer 18, computer 18determines whether the Exit button of FIG. 9 was selected as illustratedat block 130 of FIG. 10. If the Exit button was selected at block 130,computer 18 advances to block 132 of FIG. 4.

If the Exit button was not selected at block 130, computer 18 determineswhether the scroll buttons 110 or 112 were selected at block 134. If so,computer 18 scrolls through the icons of product menu scroll box 108 todisplay the plurality of images and textual data associated with theavailable product images as illustrated at block 136. Computer 18 thenreturns to block 134.

If the scroll buttons 110 and 112 were not selected at block 134,computer 18 determines whether a particular display window 114, 116,118, or 120 was selected as illustrated at block 138. If one of thelarger display windows 114, 116, 118, or 120 was selected at block 138,computer 18 advances to block 140 of FIG. 11 as discussed in detailbelow. If a display window is not selected at block 138, computer 18determines whether one of the product icons was selected from the scrollbox 108 as illustrated at block 142 of FIG. 10. If not, computer 18returns to block 130.

If one of the product icons was selected from the icon scroll box 108illustrated in FIG. 9, the image and associated data for the selectedproduct is displayed in the next available display box 114, 116, 118, or120. A selected background is displayed behind the product image asdiscussed below. After four such products have been selected, and theproduct images and data are displayed, the next product selectionreplaces the first selected image in box 114. This is a continuous loopallowing user to always display four selected products simultaneously.Alternately, the customer may be given our option as to which of thereview boxes 114, 116, 118, and 120 are replaced by the newly selectedproduct.

By selecting one of the products in the icon scroll box 108, computer 18accesses a “map” data base and determines the image or images, the data,and the configuration for the particular image display as illustrated atblock 144 of FIG. 10. The data within this “map” record points to theproduct images, any additional data, and the configuration or backgroundimage to use to integrate the images and data. In other words, theproduct images can be displayed on differently designed backgrounds asdiscussed in detail below.

Computer 18 retrieves the product images and data from the computermemory as illustrated at block 146. Next, computer 18 displays theproduct images and data based on the map configuration in the nextavailable display window 114, 116, 118, or 120 as illustrated at block148 (or a customer selected display window).

At any time, the operator can select one of the four display windows114, 116, 118, or 120 using the mouse input device. If computer 18determines that a display window was selected at block 138 of FIG. 10,computer 18 advances to block 140 of FIG. 11. Selection of one of thedisplay windows 114, 116, 118, or 120 causes an order and review box tobe displayed as illustrated at block 150 of FIG. 11. A sample screendisplay of the order and review box is illustrated in FIG. 12. Forexample, the quantity, type of metal, color, or other parameters relatedto the products may be displayed as illustrated in section 152. Orderand Review buttons are also provided.

Computer 18 determines whether the Review button was selected from thescreen of FIG. 12 as illustrated at block 154 of FIG. 11. If the Reviewbutton was selected, the product images and data are mapped to the nextavailable display box 178, 180, 182, or 184 of FIG. 13 as illustrated atblock 156. Computer 18 then advances to block 158 of FIG. 8.

If the Review button was not selected at block 154, computer 18determines whether the Order button was selected from the screen of FIG.12 as illustrated at block 160 in FIG. 11. If the Order button wasselected, computer 18 adds the item to the order pad as illustrated atblock 162 and then advances to block 98 of FIG. 15 as discussed below.

If the Order button was not selected at block 160, computer 18determines whether the Cancel button was selected as illustrated atblock 164. If not, computer 18 returns to block 154. If the Cancelbutton was selected at block 164, computer 18 advances to block 106 ofFIG. 10.

Anytime the review button is selected, computer 18 displays the fourselected image display boxes 178, 180, 182, and 184 as illustrated inFIG. 13. This permits a side-by-side comparison of the particularproducts in which the customer is interested.

Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, FIG. 14 is a sample order pad displayscreen which computer 18 displays on monitor 38. The order pad listsquantity and style number for the various products which are to beordered. Steps performed by the computer 18 are illustrated in FIG. 15.Computer 18 determines whether a line on the order pad on FIG. 14 wasselected for modification or deletion as illustrated at block 166 ofFIG. 15. If not, computer 18 determines whether the Cancel button wasselected at block 168. If the Cancel button was not selected, computer18 returns to block 166. If the Cancel button was selected at block 168,computer 18 advances to block 132 of FIG. 4.

If a line on the order pad was selected for modification or deletion atblock 166, computer 18 displays fields for modification as illustratedat block 170. Computer 18 determines whether a delete line entry wasselected at block 172. If so, computer 18 deletes the selected line fromthe order file as illustrated at block 174 and then returns to block 132of FIG. 4. If a delete line was not selected at block 172, computer 18determines whether an OK button was selected as illustrated at block176. If not, computer 18 returns to block 170. If the OK was selected atblock 176, computer 18 advances to block 132 of FIG. 4.

After particular items are selected for ordering, computer 18 canautomatically transmit the order to the vendor's computer 12 throughmodem 20 as discussed above. In addition, computer can print out anorder form on printer 24. The printed order form is then sent to thevendor.

The mapping feature of the present invention provides computer 18 withthe ability to overlay an image on a desired background. In the presentinvention, a transparent solid background is provided for the storedimage file related to a product item which is then overlaid on thedesired background. In accordance with the present invention, a cyanbackground is used as the transparent color. The product images arephotographed against a flat black background. The images of the productscan be on film and converted to digital format by scanning or directlyto a digital format using a digital camera. Once in a digital format,the images are electronically scanned. All the black pixels in the imageare changed to cyan and stored. When the image is placed on top of aselected background image, the background shows through in any locationswhere there is a cyan pixel. The image of the product which is made upof pixels having colors other than cyan, is visible in the foreground ofthe image.

In merchandising, special days are used to help generate interest inproducts. For instance, Father's Day, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day,Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. are all used for special productpromotions. When advertising products for these special days, themerchandiser typically generates advertisements having themes associatedwith the particular event. The present invention provides the capabilityof dynamically applying a background to the image of a product to createan electronic virtual product catalog. Therefore, the background can bechanged and dynamically applied to the product images, such as pieces ofjewelry, that the retailer wishes to offer as a particular special. Themapping feature in which the product image data is mapped to aparticular background scene can be accomplished entirely on the computer18. In addition, the data related to the image data and background datacan be updated and mapped from a vendors computer 12 using thetechniques disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,490, which is incorporatedherein by reference. Using the concept of a “map” to define the exactway a product image, product information, and a background image areintegrated, a desired product presentation image can be generated. Inaddition, all components of the presentation image can be managed andmaintained by a central server such as vendor's computer 12. This allowsthe vendor's corporate marketing and advertising department to controland manage product presentation at each of its different sales locationsefficiently.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to acertain preferred embodiment, variations and modifications exist withinthe scope and spirit of the present invention as described and definedin the following claims.

1. A method for providing product information related to a plurality ofproducts from a vendor's computer to a remote computer including adisplay and an input device for review by a user, the method comprising:storing product data including image data and textual data related to aplurality of products in a memory of the vendor's computer; providingproduct data including image data and textual data related to aplurality of products from the memory of the vendor's computer to theremote computer for display on the display of the remote computer;receiving at least one user input from the remote computer selecting atleast two products associated with the image data and textual datarelated to the plurality of products displayed on the display of theremote computer for a comparison of the at least two products on thedisplay of the remote computer; providing updated product dataassociated with the at least two selected products from the memory ofthe vendor's computer to the remote computer if the product datapreviously provided to the remote computer is different from the updatedproduct data, the updated product data being associated with the atleast two selected products; and providing display instructions from thevendor's computer to the remote computer, the display instructionsproviding instructions operative to cause the remote computer to displayimage data and textual data related to the at least two selectedproducts from at least one of the product data and the updated productdata received from the vendor's computer as a side-by-side comparison onthe display of the remote computer.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe image data and textual data related to the at least two selectedproducts is displayed in at least two side-by-side review boxes.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising receiving a user input requestingto order a selected product displayed on the display and generating anorder form for the selected product for display on the display of theremote computer.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising receivingorder information selected through the order form from the remotecomputer at the vendor's computer.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein theorder form includes a plurality of selected products.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein a scroll box is displayed on the display which includesproduct data related to the plurality of products.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising providing data related to a plurality ofproduct categories from the vendor's computer to the remote computer fordisplay on the display of the remote computer as selection inputs forthe plurality of product categories, receiving a user input selecting aproduct category from the plurality of product categories displayed onthe display of the remote computer, and wherein the step of providingproduct data related to the plurality of products includes product datarelated to the selected product category.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein the display instructions are operative to cause an integrationof the product data with a selected background image on the display. 9.The method of claim 1, wherein image data and textual data related tothe plurality of products are displayed in a vertical listing on thedisplay of the remote computer for review and selection at the remotecomputer by the user.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein theside-by-side comparison of the at least two selected products isdisplayed on a separate review area on the display of the remotecomputer from the vertical listing of image data and textual datarelated to the plurality of products.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein the separate review area on the display of the remote computerreplaces the vertical listing of image data and textual data related tothe plurality of products.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein productimages in the side-by-side comparison are larger than product images inthe vertical listing.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein in the verticallisting the image data is presented in a first column and the textualdata is presented in a second column.
 14. The method of claim 1, whereinthe updated product data includes image data and textual data, thetextual data including pricing information.
 15. The method of claim 1,wherein the step of receiving at least one user input from the remotecomputer comprises receiving at least two product selections fromselection inputs associated with the displayed image data for the atleast two selected products from the product data displayed on thedisplay of the remote computer.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein acomputer mouse is used by a user to select the at least two productsfrom the product data displayed on the display.
 17. The method of claim1, wherein the vendor's computer and the remote computer communicate viathe internet.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the side-by-sidecomparison includes a plurality of adjacent review areas, and whereinselected product image data is displayed in the next available reviewarea until all the review areas are filled with product image data, andwherein image data related to the next selected product replaces theproduct image data in one of the review areas.
 19. The method of claim1, further comprising the step of providing from the vendor's computerto the remote computer instructions operative to cause a hierarchicalmenu of product categories to be displayed on the display of the remotecomputer, the hierarchical menu including at least two productcategories.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the hierarchical menuincludes first, second, and third level product menus, the second levelproduct menu being displayed in response to a selection of an item inthe first level product menu, the third level product menu beingdisplayed in response to a selection of an item from the second levelproduct menu, and wherein the step of providing product data related toa plurality of products from the vendor's computer to the remotecomputer for display on the display occurs in response to selection of acategory from the third level product menu.
 21. The method of claim 1,wherein the image data related to the at least two selected products forside-by-side comparison are positioned on the display of the remotecomputer in a horizontal row and the textual data related to theselected products is positioned below the respective product image data.22. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a list ofvendors from the memory of the vendor's computer to the remote computer,receiving a user input from the remote computer selecting at least onevendor, and wherein the step of providing product data related to aplurality of products from the vendor's computer to the remote computerfor display on the display includes providing product data related to aplurality of products available from the selected vendor.
 23. The methodof claim 1, wherein the step of providing display instructions from thevendor's computer to the remote computer comprises providing a map fromthe vendor's computer to the remote computer to permit the remotecomputer to integrate the image data and textual data on the display ofthe remote computer.
 24. The method of claim 1, wherein the vendor'scomputer is a server.
 25. The method of claim 1, wherein the vendor'scomputer is located at the vendor's place of business.
 26. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the image data related to the at least two selectedproducts in the updated product data is different from the image data inthe product data related to the plurality of products.
 27. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising the steps of: receiving an additional userinput from the remote computer selecting a replacement product whichreplaces one of the at least two products for a comparison of thereplacement product with the other products of the at least two productson the display of the remote computer; providing updated product data,if necessary, from the memory of the vendor's computer that isassociated with the replacement product to the remote computer andproviding display instructions from the vendor's computer to the remotecomputer, the display instructions providing instructions operative tocause the remote computer to display the image data and the textual datarelated to the replacement product from at least one of the product dataand the updated product data received from the vendor's computer as aside-by-side comparison on the display of the remote computer along withthe other selected products.
 28. The method of claim 1, wherein theimage data related to the at least two selected products in the updatedproduct data is different from the image data in the product datarelated to the plurality of products.
 29. The method of claim 1, whereinthe updated product data includes pricing information and the displayinstructions cause the pricing information to be displayed in theside-by-side comparison.
 30. A system for providing product informationrelated to a plurality of products from a vendor's computer to a remotecomputer through a communication link, the remote computer including adisplay and an input device for review by a user, the system comprising:a processor; at least one memory accessible by the processor; and acommunication device which provides a connection to the communicationlink; wherein the at least one memory includes product data includingimage data and textual data related to a plurality of products; softwareexecutable by the processor for providing product data including imagedata and textual data related to a plurality of products from thevendor's computer to the remote computer for display on the display;software executable by the processor for receiving at least one userinput from the remote computer selecting at least two productsassociated with the image data and textual data related to the pluralityof products displayed on the display of the remote computer forcomparison on the display of the remote computer; software executable bythe processor for determining product data stored in the memory of thevendor's computer that is associated with each of the at least twoselected products; and software executable by the processor forproviding display instructions from the vendor's computer to the remotecomputer to permit the remote computer to combine the image data and thetextual data related to the at least two selected products from theproduct data received from the vendor's computer to display both imagedata and textual data product information related to the at least twoselected products for a side-by-side comparison on the display of theremote computer.
 31. The system of claim 30, wherein the image data andthe textual data related to the at least two selected products aredisplayed in at least two side-by-side review boxes.
 32. The system ofclaim 30, further comprising software executable by the processor forreceiving a user input to order a selected product displayed on thedisplay and software executable by the processor for generating an orderform for the selected product for display on the display of the remotecomputer.
 33. The system of claim 32, further comprising softwareexecutable by the processor for providing order information selectedthrough the order form from the remote computer to a vendor's computer.34. The system of claim 30, further comprising software executable bythe processor for providing data related to a plurality of productcategories from the vendor's computer to the remote computer for displayon the display, and software executable by the processor for receiving auser input selecting a product category from the plurality of productcategories displayed on the display, and software executable by theprocessor for transmitting product data related to the selected productcategory from the vendor's computer to the remote computer for displayon the display.
 35. The system of claim 30, wherein the displayinstructions permit integration of the product data with a selectedbackground image on the display.
 36. The system of claim 30, whereinimage data and textual data related to the plurality of products aredisplayed in a vertical listing on the display of the remote computerfor review and selection at the remote computer by the user.
 37. Thesystem of claim 36, wherein the side-by-side comparison of the at leasttwo selected products is displayed on a separate review area on thedisplay of the remote computer from the vertical listing of image dataand textual data related to the plurality of products.
 38. The system ofclaim 36, wherein product images in the side-by-side comparison arelarger than product images in the vertical listing.
 39. The system ofclaim 30, wherein the textual data includes pricing information.
 40. Thesystem of claim 30, wherein the software executable by the processor forreceiving at least one user input from the remote computer receives atleast two product selections from areas adjacent the displayed imagedata associated with the at least two selected products from the productdata displayed on the display of the remote computer.
 41. The system ofclaim 30, wherein a computer mouse is used by a user to select the atleast two products from the product data displayed on the display. 42.The system of claim 30, wherein the vendor's computer and the remotecomputer communicate via the internet.
 43. The system of claim 30,wherein the side-by-side comparison includes a plurality of adjacentreview areas, and wherein selected product image data is displayed inthe next available review area until all the review areas are filledwith product image data, and wherein image data related to the nextselected product replaces the product image data in one of the reviewareas.
 44. The system of claim 30, further comprising softwareexecutable by the processor for providing a hierarchical menu of productcategories from the vendor's computer to the remote computer for displayon the display of the remote computer, the hierarchical menu includingat least two product categories.
 45. The system of claim 44, wherein thehierarchical menu includes first, second, and third level product menus,the second level product menu being displayed in response to a selectionof an item in the first level product menu, the third level product menubeing displayed in response to a selection of an item from the secondlevel product menu, and wherein the software executable by the processorfor providing product data related to a plurality of products from thevendor's computer to the remote computer for display on the displaytransmits the product data in response to receipt of a user inputselecting a category from the third level product menu.
 46. The systemof claim 30, wherein the image data related to the at least two selectedproducts for side-by-side comparison are positioned on the display ofthe remote computer in a horizontal row and the textual data related tothe selected products is positioned below the respective product imagedata.
 47. The system of claim 30, further comprising software executableby the processor for providing a list of vendors from the vendor'scomputer to the remote computer, software executable by the processorfor receiving a user input from the remote computer selecting at leastone vendor, and wherein the software executable by the processor forproviding product data related to a plurality of products from thevendor's computer to the remote computer for display on the displayprovides product data related to a plurality of products available fromthe selected vendor.
 48. The system of claim 30, wherein the softwareexecutable by the processor for providing display instructions from thevendor's computer to the remote computer provides a map from thevendor's computer to the remote computer to permit the remote computerto integrate the image data and textual data on the display of theremote computer.
 49. The system of claim 30, wherein the vendor'scomputer is a server.
 50. The system of claim 30, wherein the vendor'scomputer is located at the vendor's place of business.
 51. The system ofclaim 30, further comprising software executable on the processor forproviding updated product data associated with the at least two selectedproducts from the memory of the vendor's computer to the remote computerif the product data previously provided to the remote computer isdifferent from the updated product data, the updated product data beingassociated with the at least two selected products.
 52. A method forproviding product information related to a plurality of products from avendor's computer to a remote computer including a display and an inputdevice for review by a user, the method comprising: storing product dataincluding image data and textual data related to a plurality of productsin a memory of the vendor's computer; storing data related to aplurality of product categories in the memory of the vendor's computer;providing data related to a plurality of product categories from thevendor's computer to the remote computer for display on the display ofthe remote computer as selection inputs for the plurality of productcategories; receiving a user input selecting a selection input for aproduct category from the plurality of product categories displayed onthe display of the remote computer; providing product data for aplurality of products related to the selected product category from thememory of the vendor's computer to the remote computer for display onthe display of the remote computer in a product listing including imageand textual data related to the plurality of products; receiving atleast one user input from the remote computer selecting at least twoproducts from the product listing displayed on the display of the remotecomputer for comparison on the display of the remote computer; providingupdated product data associated with the at least two selected productsfrom the memory of the vendor's computer to the remote computer if theproduct data previously provided to the remote computer is differentfrom the updated product data and providing display instructions fromthe vendor's computer to the remote computer, the display instructionsproviding instructions operative to cause the remote computer to displayat least one of the product data and the updated product data receivedfrom the vendor's computer as part of a side-by-side comparison whereinan image related to each selected product is displayed along withtextual data related to each selected product on the display of theremote computer, the images of the selected products being positioned onthe display of the remote computer in a horizontal row and the textualdata being displayed below the horizontal row of images to facilitatereview and comparison of the selected products by the user.
 53. Themethod of claim 52, wherein the updated product data includes pricinginformation and the display instructions cause the pricing informationto be displayed in the side-by-side comparison.
 54. The method of claim52, further comprising the step of providing a second image from thememory of the vendor's computer to the remote computer, the second imagebeing displayed on the display of the remote computer along with theimages of the selected products as part of the side-by-side comparison.55. The method of claim 54, wherein the images of the selected productsoverlay the second image.
 56. The method of claim 54, wherein the secondimage is related to a special product promotion.
 57. The method of claim56, wherein the product promotion is related to an event theme.
 58. Themethod of claim 56, wherein the second image is a background image. 59.The method of claim 58, wherein the images of the selected productsoverlay the background image.
 60. The method of claim 54, wherein thedisplay instructions define an exact way how the images related to theselected products, textual data related to the selected products, andthe second image are integrated together to provide a visualrepresentation on the display of the remote computer.
 61. The method ofclaim 52, wherein the at least one user input includes a selection of anicon which results in the remote computer displaying the side-by-sidecomparison on the display of the remote computer.
 62. The method ofclaim 61, wherein the icon is a product icon.
 63. The method of claim52, wherein the data related to the plurality of product categories isprovided for display on the display of the remote computer in responseto receiving a vendor selection from the remote computer at the vendor'scomputer, the stored product data related to a plurality of productsbeing product data of products offered for sale by the selected vendor.64. The method of claim 63, further comprising providing an iconassociated with the vendor from the vendor's computer to the remotecomputer, and the step of receiving a vendor selection from the remotecomputer comprises receiving a user input selecting the icon.
 65. Themethod of claim 52, wherein the images related to the at least twoselected products in the updated product data are different from theimages in the product data related to the plurality of products.
 66. Themethod of claim 52, wherein the images of the selected products arepositioned on the display of the remote computer in a plurality ofhorizontal rows and the textual data related to each selected product isdisplayed below each product image.